While I’m trying not to focus too much on Civil War history, it is hard not to when the 5K course loops through a confederate cemetery.

The family-friendly charity event in the historic Spotsylvania Courthouse area benefited the local youth soccer association. The relatively flat course made for a quick and easy run. About halfway through, the route took a right down a gravel road that led to the cemetery.

Four very bloody civil war battles were fought in Spotsylvania County, accounting for more than 100,000 casualties. The casualties included Confederate General Stonewall Jackson. Wounds caused by friendly fire during in the 1863 Battle of Chancellorsville led to his death. Union General John Sedgwick was killed by a sniper in the 1864 Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse.

But the history of the county begins much earlier than the Civil War. It was established in 1721. It was home to the first successful iron works in North America. There was an attempted slave rebellion in 1815. Kunta Kinte, the main character in Alex Hailey’s Roots, is based on a man who lived on a plantation in the county.

Today, Spotsylvania is one of the fastest growing counties in the nation. In addition to farming and other industries, it is home to Washington, D.C., commuters. It is about 50 miles south of the city. The historic Courthouse area has a population of about 4,000.

Nine runs down – 125 to go.

View Spotsylvania in a larger map

And We're Off

Despite getting the time of the race wrong, I managed to get to the starting line on time.

Fixer Upper

Some of the houses in the area have a haunting look.

Small hill

Sign

The farm in the background dominates the Courthouse area. Historical significance? Not sure.

Farm Again

Down a Side Street

Dog Tired

You know it is a serious race when there is a canine division.

One More View of the Farm

Into the Cemetery

A group of local women established the cemetery in 1866. They moved the remains of soldiers that had been put in crudely marked graves near the battlefields to the cemetery.

Grouped By State

A total of 700 soldiers from 20 different states are buried at the site.

Unknown

More than 100 of the markers are for Unknown Soldiers.

Overlooking

In the center of the cemetery, a Confederate soldier stands watch.

Final Push

Runners reach the finish line.

Gettting Ready for Mile Run

After the 5K, the youngsters got ready for a one-mile run.

Which Way?

As runners lined up for the miler, there was some confusion as to the start direction.

All Settled

The direction was settled, but things were a bit tight on the front line.

Not on the trail....

Bruce Seafood, a crab shack in every sense of the word, is just a few miles from the course. Unfortuntely, it was closed.

One-Room School

This school, located just a few blocks from the course, opened in the early 1930s. It was typical of African-American public schools scattered throughout the county between 1870 and 1952.

Integration

The school was used until 1952 when African Americans started attending the John J. Wright Consolidated School. Schools weren't integrated until 1968.